Last night I went to bed thinking that the observatory that I use remotely in the same area (Timor Rd) was a pile of ashes. We were lucky and the fire didn't destroy it or any of the others on the same property. It will be out of action while the power and internet cables are re-run.
Firstly the good news: Whilst significant peripheral damage has been sustained, the Warrumbungles Mountain Motel, its Residence and storage buildings have all survived the fire-storm which engulfed the region last weekend. Sally and Dick (and the dogs) have all survived unscathed and the motel will remain open for business at this stage once fire crews have assessed the damage and allow people back into the area.
Donna Burton's property just up the road also sustained significant damage, however her home has survived intact thanks to a fire-fighter who happened to pass by her home at 3am and doused a flare-up.
Peter Starr, across the road from the Warrumbungles Mountain Motel, has lost the "old house" on his property, however the "new house" and the observatory domes have all survived intact.
The local residents and staff up at the Siding Spring Observatories were all evacuated from the Timor Road area into town and are coping well given the circumstances.
Now for the bad news: NSW Rural Fire Service Building Impact Assessment Teams have confirmed 33 properties in the Timor Road area have been destroyed, although this number is likely to change as crews work through the damage. More than 50 sheds have also been destroyed, as well as a large number of livestock and farm machinery.
Parts of the Siding Spring Observatory have been damaged by fire. The main telescope has survived, although it is not known if it has been damaged. The Visitors Centre and the Astronomers Lodge (the main accommodation) have been significantly damaged as well as several other residences and sheds on the mountain, however it is not yet known whether the extreme heat has damaged or affected any of the telescopes which appear to have largely escaped the wrath of the fire-storm.
The Timor Cottages have unfortunately also been lost to the fires, as has Rob McNaught's home amongst others.
I have received reports this morning of several observatory workers being among those
who lost their houses.
It was alarming to read in Lachlan's account that the fire had got down the Timor
Road at least as far as the Motel. That is quite a way.
Goodbye Timor Cottages where we stayed on occasion and spent many memorable
nights observing with friends.
if the Timor Cottages are gone then I can't imagine that the Craggiebungle Cottage
would have stood much of a chance.
Anxious to hear how Steve Lee and his family got on.
I caught up with Rob McN this morning in Coonabarabran town.
His partner and dogs are OK.
Lost everything including his house.
He has a place to stay.
He said he didn't even know there was a fire untill a phone call to evacuate and to make sure you are prepared for fire early.
Steve's property were outside the fire zone I believe, but not certain.
I caught up with Rob McN this morning in Coonabarabran town.
His partner and dogs are OK.
Lost everything including his house.
He has a place to stay.
He said he didn't even know there was a fire untill a phone call to evacuate and to make sure you are prepared for fire early.
Steve's property were outside the fire zone I believe, but not certain.
Thanks Jeff,
We had heard about Rob. Lucky they got out and good to hear they
have somewhere to stay.
Hopefully Steve and Pam were outside of the zone but I was shocked
to hear it had got as far as the Mountains Motel.
A group of us are coming up to Coona in March for the week.
Our thoughts are with everyone in the meantime.
As Dave Kriege reminded me, the stars will always be there.
I have had a heavy heart today about the devastation. On page 3 of the Telegraph today there was an aerial photo of Timor Country Cottages where I have spent several wonderful holidays, and enjoyed observing on one memorable weekend with Andrew Murrell. I felt sick looking at the photo. On ABC news tonight Helen, whom many of us who stayed at the Cottages would have met, was briefly interviewed. She was understandably devastated. She mentioned that she and her husband Hugh had built the homes there, and that her daughter had been living in the front cottage.
The proprietors of the Mountain Motel were also interviewed on the ABC news, although the surrounding land has been badly scorched, their buildings have been saved. They were looking quite shocked.
Gary - I agree with you that it is hard to imagine that Craggibungle ,which I have also stayed at, could have survived, given that it sits in amongst the trees on high! It is quite a bit further down the Timor Road towards the NP than Timor Rock, so it must surely be lost. That is very sad, because it is such a gorgeous spot.
So glad to hear that everyone is safe. That is of course the main thing.
I will be staying at Pilliga in March (same week that Gary, John Bambury, Lachlan etc, and the visitors from the North will be in Coona). It will be interesting to see how things have come along by then.
On ABC news tonight Helen, whom many of us who stayed at the Cottages would have met, was briefly interviewed. She was understandably devastated. She mentioned that she and her husband Hugh had built the homes there, and that her daughter had been living in the front cottage.
Hi Rod,
We just watched that too. As soon as we saw the Timor Rock we knew it would
be Helen and her daughter. What a terrible blow.
I heard this morning that the Pilliga area is now under threat , hope all is well at pilliga
phil
Hi Phil,
I think they are OK at Pilliga Pottery. This is the latest posting on their Facebook page (from 21 hours ago):
Still here! Quieter fire conditions (cooler weather and less wind) over the last couple of days have meant slower fire development, although both fires are still expanding and remain a real danger if conditions worsen. The whole team has been working like trojans to prepare the pottery and homestead ahead of expected hotter conditions towards the end of the week. Huge thanks to Anna, Nena, Yukari, Helene, Laura, Kai, Max, Ryan, and Jaap for their amazing efforts thus far! Massive thank you as well to Amy and Christian, who tore themselves away from us to swan off to New Zealand for an admittedly well-earned break - we miss them already! And a big shout out for the RFS and their volunteer support crew - true heroes operating under very difficult conditions (we include Johannes and Bernhard in this list, as they've been firefighting as well as helping out here). We'll keep you posted as we can. Cheers from the Pilliga Pottery Family (Maria, Regina, Johannes, Bernhard and Julie).
An update posted on the RFS website yesterday afternoon, 17 Jan 2013, at 17:25
said the fire was burning close to rural properties in the Bingie Grumble Road and
Carrington Lane areas.
An update posted on the RFS website yesterday afternoon, 17 Jan 2013, at 17:25
said the fire was burning close to rural properties in the Bingie Grumble Road and
Carrington Lane areas.
RFS report 51 properties have been lost as at this time.
Andrew Murrell talked to Steve Lee last night on the telephone but the fire
was not in their immediate vicinity. They have evacuated twice so far but as at last
night the fire was SW of them but that was also the direction the wind is predicted to come
from today.
With the extreme temperatures that are taking place there today it will
be tough work for the 150 firefighters. RFS reports the fire is still out of control.
Steve has worked as an operator at the AAT for many years. Some will also remember Steve
for his discovery of Comet Lee in 1999.
Steve said it took just under 2 hours for the fire to come from the Observatory to them.
That's a distance of 14.25km as the crow flies. Steve reported that no one was
expecting it to move so fast.
The damage to Donna Burton's house is apparently limited to the outside porch.
As was reported earlier, the local fire brigade saw the house was under threat
and managed to put out the fire before it caused much damage. Apparently three
other houses were similarly saved.
One of Steve's colleagues who is also a night assistant was the last to leave
the AAT and took pictures as long as he could before evacuating.
Steve said he has some shots of the side of the AAT dome showing the
the Lodge in flames over its roof.
Steve confirmed that the temperature reached over 100C outside but the temperature in the AAT dome
didn’t rise much.
However, the concern is with the pressurized stairwell. They believe it may have drawn
in smoke from outside which could contain asbestos from the Lodge.
.
